Akhtar, Asif among 26 Pakistani players cleared in dope tests
CRICKET: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and
Mohammad Asif, who tested positive for steroids last year, have passed
doping tests for Pakistan's squad for the Twenty20 World Cup, the
Pakistan Cricket Board said on Saturday.
Spokesman Ahsan Malik said the PCB had received the results of urine
tests from a World Anti Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Malaysia
for 26 likely players in the cup squad, and all had been clear including
Akhtar and Asif.
Four other players - bowlers Yasir Arafat and Danish Kaneria, batsman
Younis Khan and wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider - would undergo tests
later because they are currently busy playing in the English County
Championship, Malik said.
Last year, Akhtar and Asif were pulled out of the Champions Trophy in
India after both tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone
during the board's internal dope testing. Asif was banned for one year,
while Akhtar was handed more severe punishment of a two-year ban by the
board's tribunal, but the bans were overturned by an appellate
committee.
WADA tried to reinstate the bans, but the Court of Arbitration for
Sport ruled last month it did not have jurisdiction to rule on the case.
The ruling prompted WADA to urge the International Cricket Council to
ensure all members adopt its codes to prevent another case of overturned
doping punishments.
Both fast bowlers skipped the World Cup in the West Indies this year
due to injuries. Asif made a comeback to international cricket during
Pakistan's three-match limited-overs series against Sri Lanka at Abu
Dhabi in May.
Akhtar's comeback was put on hold after both one-day internationals
against Scotland and India were washed out in Scotland last month.
Pakistan is due to announce its squad next week for the Twenty 20 World
Cup in South Africa next month.
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